Click The Book Cover To Order What She Left Us on Amazon Today!

Follow by Email

2013: MaNiC'S WeeKLy ReaDS

Followers

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

In less than a month, our family is venturing to YellowStone National Park. Have I mentioned this to you yet? Probably not, because this 'vacation' is akin to me being a contestant on Survivor.

Will I make it in the wilderness? Will a bear eat me? Will I have my period during our trip so a bear can easily sniff me out and THEN eat me? Will there be so many bugs that Tukey will get bitten to death and we'll end up with an allergic reaction that will land him in the hospital, and is there even a hospital out there? Will ANYONE in my family make it for an 1/2-day hike, much less an hour-long hike? How are we going to have fresh sheets on the beds if we are staying in a CABIN!? (Yes, I put the major kibosh on any outdoor sleeping) ... and yes, these are the things that keep me up at night.

But we're going! So I'd love any outdoorsy hikey recommendations if any of you have them. And in preparation for this 'trip,' we all went and purchased hiking shoes, and yesterday, Mr. Manic, Ajers and I went on a test-drive HIKE out at Starved Rock in Illinois.

The other kids were not with us as Grandpa and Grandma kidnapped them graciously and most appreciated by me, offered to take my littlest rats with them for a two-night stay at their place. Admittedly, I was a little emotional to be without my Diva and Tukey, but I GOT OVER THAT FAST, and AJers, Mr. Manic and I had some major special bonding time together.

Which included that hike thing we did yesterday. Outside. With bugs and wilderness and some cool waterfalls, that thankfully, I didn't slip and trip into the water in this canyon thing because then I would have really been pissed off and anti-outdoors. More so than I am already, if possible.

So we hiked a while, and it was pretty but there are ony a few pics on Mr. Manic's crackberry and I tried to upload but you'll just have to use your imagination of me scaling a canyon rock wall and jumping over teeny streams and such.

Then we went for lunch and I had a beer and Ajers whipped my butt in pool. Having lunch in an air-conditioned restaurant called The Blind Pig was actually the highlight of the hiking trip.

All of our shoes performed perfectly, and no one has any blisters, which was our main concern. Of course, mine got a little bit muddy, which I didn't like.

The other highlight of the day, which occurred later on after we returned home is that I got my upper lip waxed. It only took 40 years of thinking about it, ignoring it, or bleaching it until I got brave enough to terminate that bastard caterpiller which resided above my lip. I don't know what took me so long, but there's only so many times I can listen to my children's pleas of: "Mom, when are you going to shave that 'stache? You've got more peach fuzz than I do!"

Not anymore kids, not anymore.

So, hiking and a lip wax. I'm not sure which was more painful. But I know I'm going to have to do both again.

You're hilarious! Good for you for getting out of your comfort zone. I'm impressed!!

Oh, and I totally understand feeling a little nervous about grandma taking the kids. Our little one went to grandma and grandpa's for the first time this weekend! I was so nervous. But I have to say, sleeping in was HEAVENLY.

Babe in Babeland--congrats on sleeping in--it is a luxury isn't it? I just don't understand why I'm still so attached to my kids being around me when they're 10 and 7!!! I just am USED TO IT AND LOVE THEM!

Sorry, Steph, but I am *still* snickering at you going camping. I can't wait to hear all about it. Especially now that your cool green boots -- that you didn't show us -- are now muddy. Did I mention that I just got back from four nights at Wynn in Vegas?

And the lipwax? Not so bad -- especially if you take Tylenol about a half hour before. That whole pain reliever thing, ya know?

ok- this is a trick that a TON of people down here in Louisiana use to keep mosquitoes away- (you know, because we have mosquitoes the size of large birds LOL) - fill a spray bottle with listerine. Spray the ground and area around you and it should help to keep the mosquitoes/bugs at bay. Also, there are these spiral things made by off that you light and they burn off and they help keep the bugs away as well.

Go get yourself some Pssssst dry hair shampoo. It's the greatest invention for when you're camping and you can't wash your hair every day.

Camping isn't necessarily a bad thing. Like you, I'm not a fan of sleeping out in a tent, etc. (i like having a/c and/or heat and a mattress to sleep on) but I've done it, and if *I* can do it, anyone can!

Oh- go get pudgy pie irons. You can get them at walmart or any outdoor store. you can put two pieces of bread and fill them how you like and put them in the pie irons and bake them over the campfire. Great for making grilled cheese, pizza pockets, breakfast sandwiches, and even pie! Just put some pie filling in the bread and heat it up!

Hope those tips help. Email me if you want more info. My husband is all about camping. (we just got a camper, too, so before, it was ALWAYS in a tent, much to my dismay)

LOVE to camp, now that we have our pop-up trailer! LOL! Yellowstone is awesome, and I'm sure you'll love it. There's lots to do that doesn't involve too much true hiking, paved paths, boardwalks and the like. Go ahead and pay the 50 cents each for the little brochures at each stop....worth it to have your own little guide book. Check out the website, too, at www.nps.gov for more information about things to do and whatnot. Yes, there is medical care in the park and in West Yellowstone. The cheesy little shops in W. Yellowstone are fun too. Oh! Have your kids do the Jr. Ranger Program too. They'll learn a lot and get a cool pin or patch (I don't remember which).

Manic family... You will LOVE Yellostone, and the great western states. I'm here in Utah and finally went to Yellowstone last summer. it was amazing. There are some really hard hikes, but many many more small easy hikes. Lots to see and some gorgeous scenery. Enjoy your vacation.

My recommendations for camping? DON'T DO IT!! Unless you have a cozy RV that has it's own queen size bed and bathroom. I love the outdoors, I really do. But I freaking HATE sleeping out there. I have to have my bed.

Did the wax job hurt or turn your upper lip red? I need to have that done. I'm tired of trying to take care of it on my own.

I guess I wasn't clear--there will be NO SLEEPING OUTDOORS! We are staying in a cabin with beds, and I am hoping THERE BETTER BE! ... running water inside of that cabin with a shower. If not, I am kicking somebody's ass really hard! (And that would be our friends' ass, the person who convinced us of this trip.

And the lip wax -- nah, I get the lower area waxed so I'm used to it. I am just afraid of the regrowth. Mr. Manic didn't even notice, then he said, "I didn't even notice you had a mustache in the first place." He's either trying to be kind, or not very observant!

Give up?? Ok, I'll tell ya. A few weeks ago I found a funny post of yours and loved it. But since I hadn't read your blog before I wanted to "catch up". So, I went back to your very first post and have read EVERY SINGLE POST in two weeks!

You've talked about writing a book and the stuggles with getting it published?? Well, to me the past two weeks have been like setting down with a good story on a cold winter day. Only, it's June and I've been at work on my computer, but you get the idea.

Any whooo...I just want to say "hi" and let you know that you have one more avid blog reader.

My name is Laurie and I'm from southern WV. I am married to my HS sweetheart and have two kids. My son is almost 13 and my daughter is 10.

LAURIE! OMG! I cannot believe you read THE WHOLE THING! You are amazing! And receiving your comment is like a gift--it's so nice to hear that you are crazy enough to read every single freakin' post! I wish you left me your email address -- if you read this, email me at manicmommy@comcast.net. You are so nice to read the whole shabang!

And Mrs. 4444- I will bring a roll of duct tape with me!!! I can also wrap myself in it in case of a bear attack--surely those teeth CAN'T GET THROUGH DUCT TAPE!

I'm proud of you. I know how hard it is to get out of your comfort zone, especially when it concerns the outdoors.

I'm allergic to grass, hate bugs and heat, so outside is not something I like doing for long. Yet last week, I spend 8-3:30 every single day outside in 90 degree heat at girl scout day camp being a leader to my daughter's group. I'm proud of myself for doing it.

Ooooo Manic I am so excited to hear you are going to Yellowstone, I was there with my family in June 2007 (search my archinves for photos and stories), actually we camped across the west for a month--it was the best trip we have taken, and we have been on some awesome trips. I have a book of hikes in Yellowstone so if you ell me what you want in your hike and what area you want to hike I will guide you in the right direction.

You are going to have a blast! Make sure if you are seriously going to hike to get good hiking shoes for everyone, tennis shoes just are good for hiking. And water, you'll need lots water. We have camel back back packs, usually drinking most if not all of our 64oz. of water throughout the day...then again my family does serious-strenuous hikes.

Hey Jodi--we all went out and bought hiking shoes - a definite must! And the family that we're going with have been out there so they are arranging everything.I just have to go with and pray for no bugs or bears! Plus, we are staying in Jackson Hole for the last couple of days of the trip! Anything we absolutely should NOT miss on the trip?

The drive,are you driving?, is the most georgous drive you will take. You won't want to fall asleep on this car ride.

Are you going into the Grand Tetons? When you enter Grand Tetons you don't have to pay to get into the park coming in from Yellowstone.

I'm going to refresh myself with my Yellowstone notes send you some hikes and see if your friends have the same one planned. We literally drove every mile of the park while we in there for four days. Even saw a couple of National Park criminals leaving the Yellowstone Jail. Hehehe

Are you going to stop in South Dakota on your way? See Mt. Rushmore?

I am nothing sort of jealous, IO would kill to go back again. We had to take a beach vacation this year since our palnned mountain trek vacation was plagued by rain. Can I hide in your suitcase?